Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Lehigh
Extra-Inning Victory Helps Bucknell Baseball to Doubleheader Split at Lehigh
4/13/2013 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 13, 2013
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Carter Bumgardner drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk in the top of the 10th inning and Max Kra retired three in a row in the bottom of the 10th for his second career save as the Bucknell baseball team earned a 7-6 win over Lehigh in game two of a doubleheader split. The Mountain Hawks claimed game one by a 4-3 score despite home runs by Travis Clark and Rob Krentzman and a complete-game outing by Bryson Hough.
Bumgardner had two hits in both ends of the doubleheader to extend his hitting streak to three games and was 4-for-7 overall. Clark was 3-for-8 with two runs scored and extended his hitting streak to a team-best six games.
Bucknell (10-23, 5-5 Patriot League) had six different hitters post at least two hits in game two as Clark, Bumgardner, Corey Furman, Anthony Gingerelli and Robb Scott had two hits apiece and Justin Meier had three, including a bases-clearing three-run double in the eighth inning that gave the Bison a 6-5 lead.
Lehigh (18-17, 5-5 PL) split its fifth consecutive Patriot League doubleheader, while 12 of Bucknell's last 16 games have now been decided by one or two runs.
Dan Weigel started game two for the Bison, but did not factor in the decision despite pitching one out into the eighth inning. The left-hander allowed 11 hits and six runs while striking out five.
Lehigh answered Meier's three-run double with a run in the bottom of the eighth when Mike Garzillo drove in the tying run with a double that knocked Weigel from the game. Marcus Garone (1-0) came in and after an intentional walk, worked out of a bases-loaded jam with back-to-back strikeouts.
Bucknell loaded the bases in the top of the ninth, but Thomas O'Malley got Gingerelli to ground out to end the frame. Garone hit a batter and walked another in the bottom of the ninth, but retired the side to force extra innings.
Scott and Meier led off the 10th inning with back-to-back singles. After a pair of ground outs, an intentional walk to Clark loaded the bases. Bumgardner then drew a walk from Jordan Smith (0-2) to put the Bison ahead 7-6.
Garone walked Garzillo to lead off the bottom of the 10th, but Kra entered the game and retired three in a row to seal the victory.
Lehigh took the early lead in game two on a two-run, two-out triple by John Elson. The Bison answered with a run in the second on a fielder's choice by Scott and two more in the third on a wild pitch and sac fly.
The Mountain Hawks evened the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the third on an RBI double by Tyler Brong.
RBI singles by Connor Faust and Brandon Wilt in the fifth and sixth innings staked Lehigh to a two-run advantage until Meier struck in the eighth.
Hough (2-4) notched his second complete game of the year in game one, but suffered the loss as three of the four runs he yielded were unearned. Hough posted four strikeouts and allowed eight hits.
Bucknell took an early 3-0 lead in the opener of the four-game weekend series thanks to a solo home run by Clark and a two-run shot by Kretnzman in the first inning. It was the second home run this year for both players, while Clark now has eight career home runs, including seven against Patriot League opponents.
After that first inning, though, the Bison managed just three more hits against Lehigh pitchers Colin Gotzon (5-3) and O'Malley. Bumgardner was 2-for-2 in the contest and reached base in all three of his at bats.
Lehigh scored one run in the bottom of the first, two unearned runs in the fourth and one more unearned run in the fifth en route to its 18th win of the season.
Bucknell and Lehigh will continue their series Sunday with another doubleheader at noon. It will be the final road Patriot League twinbill in 2013 for the Bison.
